Amalgamator.



No. 668,282. Patented Fab. l9, 190i.

c. s;. co|.uus. AMALGAMATDR.

(Application filed Jan. 4, 1899.;

(No Ibdel.)

I has co, PHOYO-LIITIHN WASHINGTON o. '04

ll 'urrnn STATES CALEB G. COLLINS, OF WOODMERE, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO CALVIN AMORY STEVENS, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

AIVlALGAIVIATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 668,282, dated February 19, 1901.

Application filed January 4,1899. Serial No. 701,097. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CALEB G. COLLINS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Woodmere,Queens county, and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Amalgamators, of which the following is a specification sufficient to enable others skilled in the art to which the invention appertains to make and use the same.

My invention is designed to effect a more thorough and rapid extraction of metal from the ore or gangue than has heretofore been practicable; and it consists in the special construction and arrangement of parts hereinafter set forth, and particularlypointed out in the claim.

The accompanying drawing represents a vertical section of apparatus designed togive practical effect to my invention.

The amalgamating-tank A is preferably, although not necessarily, of cylindrical form, arranged vertically and formed of a metal not afiected by mercury.

.B is a stand-pipe which extends from near the bottom of the cylinder A to a height sufiicient to render gravity available in forcing the ore-pulp introduced through said pipe B into and through the column of mercury in the cylinder A, the level of which mercury is indicated by the line m m. The pipe 13 is supported so as to be free to rotate upon its longitudinal axes by any suitable mechanical expedient, as by shoulders I) b, resting upon the upper ends of the bearings C C. It is provided with a power-pulley W, by which it is rotated, and with a funnel-shaped month Q at its upper extremity to facilitate the introduction of the ore or pulp.

D D represent a series of iron plates or disks secured rigidly to the pipe B and rotating therewith. These plates D are perforated, but the plates are so arranged with relation to each other that the perforations in adjoining plates do not coincide. The series of plates D D are designed to be immersed in the mercury. The upper plate D", in addition to being perforated, is provided with a series of iron rods d, extending downward from its under surface to within, say, about an inch of the surface m m of the mercury.

Extending from the side of the cylinder,

near its lower extremity, is a pipe E, projecting upward above the line of mercury in the cylinder A and provided at top with a vessel F for the reception of a solution of sodium salt, such as sodium chlorid P is a carbon plate situated in said soda-tank F and representing the positive pole or anode of an electricalcircuit, of which]; is a symbolical representation of the conductor from a source of electricity.

N is the cathode or negative pole, connected by the conductor n with a source of electricity. This cathode consists of acomparatively large plate of carbon supported upon suitable insulators at the bottom of the cylinder A, below the stand-pipe B.

H is an outlet or overflow pipe for the escape of pulp, &c.

The operation is as follows: The ore reduced to the desired degree of fineness is introduced into the hopper or funnel Q, and a fluid-vehicle used to facilitate its passage to the body of mercury below. Water or even air pressure may be used as such a vehicle. The tank F is supplied with a solution of sodium salt, such as sodium chlorid, (common salt,) which descends through the pipe E to the level of the mercury in the taukA. The electricity being turned on, sodium is formed in the immediate presence of the mere my and is immediately taken up or absorbed thereby. It is obvious that the natural tendency ofthe pulp, owing to the height of the standpipe B, will be to force itself into the body of mercury above the cathode N, after which the greater specific gravity of the mercury will tend to force the pulp-gangue upward into the space above the mercury to escape through the overflow-pipe H. This action is retarded by the plates, which cause the pulp to deviate oonstantly from astraight line of passage by reason of the fact that the perforations in the adjoining plates do not coincide. This action is further augmented and a thorough admixture of the pulp and mercury assured by therotation of the plates D with the tube B. By this means it is rendered practically impossible for any of the metal to escape without exposure to and contact with the mercury, and as the latter is kept bright and active by the presence of the newlyformed sodium 'por-tant practical advantage. attained, since 'ter and effectiveness. This, together with the.

the percentage of amalgam attained is largely increased. As the pulp rises above the level m m of the mercury it is thoroughly stirred and agitated by the rods d on the disk D, thereby disengaging any mercury that may have risen with the pulp and allowing it to fall back into the body of mercury below. The exhausted pulp escapes through the pipe H. It is Well known that mercury will take up or absorb sodium and that'water will decompose and separate it from the mercury. Thus" the sodium formed on the cathode in the bottom of the cylinder A will rise with the mercury until decomposed by Water, the presence of the sodium keeping the mercury clean and active and in the best condition possible for forming an amalgam of the ore contained in the pulp. The constant formation of fresh sodium at the cathode and its. contin uous de: composition by the Water present is the imif the sodium remained in the mercury it would cause the mercury to. grow hard and crusty, and thereby destroy its receptiveness for the metal. Thus it will be seen that it isv the actual generation or formation of the sodium directly within the mercury that is the important and distinguishing feature of my invention, the sodium in its nascent state being much more active and effective in preventing the fouling or flowering of the. mercury than when introduced in any other manner. Theconstantremovalofthesodium by decomposition before it deteriorates in efficiency and the continuous formation of fresh active sodium at the. cathode keep the. mercury-bath constant and uniform in charac enforced and positive admixture of the pulp with the mercury, insures. the elimination from the pulp and the combination with the mercury of practically all the metal in the pulp if the latter has been reduced to a suf-. ficient degree of fineness. This result is largely contributed to by the perforated disks D, which thoroughly break up the mass of ore in the pulp by causing it to pass through the numerous holes in the plates, deviating in its course in doing so. The motion of the plates also retards the upward flow of the pulp and has a scouring effect on the ore therein, making it more receptive to the me c ry-- It is to be understood that While I have herein described the use of anodes and oath,- odes of carbon other suitable substances may be used for the electric terminals.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

In an amalgamating apparatus for-continn-.

gamating ores under hydrostatic pressure.

the combination of a stationary amalgamat-.

ing-tank A, adapted to contain mercury, the rotatable stand-pipe B, provided with perforated disks D, D, D., the cathode N, situated below the end of said supply-pipe B, the pipe E, opening into the amalgamating-tank A, in proximity-to. the cathode N, and considerably below the mercury-level, whereby the ore introducedinto. the mercury through the pipe B, issubjected to hydrostatic pressure, the vessel F', connected with the pipe E, above the level of the. mercury in the amalgamau caused by the submerging feed, B, and the rotation of the disks D, D, D, substantially as herein shown. and described.

CALEB G, COLLINS.

Witnesses:

D. W. GARDNER, GEO. WM. MtATT. 

